Campinas Brazil Mission

Its been really crazy weather down here. I got transferred to Wyoming, but I was stuck in Colorado until yesterday. I’m now in Laramie Wyoming, which is a college town, and it reminds me a lot of Pullman. The weather is a lot like Montana, but I like it. From what I’ve heard its really nice here in the summer, it doesn’t get too hot, but it stays around 70-80 degrees. I’m training again, so I will be here for 2 transfers, and then I will have only one left. So I will be here as the weather starts to warm up. Its really nice and sunny outside right now, but the wind is blowing enough to make it pretty cold. I guess the wind blows around here all the time though. We are just going around getting to know the area and everyone, since I got swept in again. An elder who went home gave me his bike for free, so Ive been using it. I feel like I can walk and bike all day without getting tired, but I don’t feel like I’m in great shape. We live in an apartment so we have some pullup bars and weights that I can start using. We live with two other missionaries, one who just finished being trained and one who was in one of my other districts. Its pretty cool. Well, I will get to the library on Monday, and I’ll take some pictures of Wyoming to send you guys. Bye!

Our mission President has old everyone that he wants us to just go home when we are done, he doesn’t want any more missionaries to be picked up by there parents. Its actually the rule that our missionary handbook says to just go home, but I guess its up to the mission president. Transfers are coming up next Monday, that should be pretty exciting. I’m like 95% positive that I will be transferred, because I’ve been in the same zone for 10 and a half months, and I’m finishing training. Usually the trainer leaves. Its crazy to think that now I’ve been in the same zone for about as long as I was in Brazil. Its also crazy how close I am to finishing. It hasn’t been easy, but I know that I will be able to finish strong. I haven’t thought a whole lost about what I’m going to do, I want to go to school, but I also want to get a job and save up some money first. I want to go to Spokane Community or Spokane Falls so I can get all of my general studies out of the way while I figure out what I’m going to major in. If there’s any advice on what I should do I’d appreciate it. Well, nothing else exciting this week, I liked conference, there were some really good talks given.

I know what you mean, this month has gone by really fast so far. I was thinking about doing my general studies at Spokane Falls or something like that, while I figure out what I want to major in. I might even be able to drive there and car pool with Josh if hes still going. I’m just not 100% sure what I want to do yet, and I don’t want to waste money or time.

So yesterday we had dinner with Brother Shelton, who served in your mission. It was really cool because they invited the Cartwright’s over too, and Brother Shelton made South African curry. He has some curry spice that he got from south africa, it was really spicy but also really tasty. Him and Jeff Cartwright talked about the mission the whole time, but Brother Shelton served from 84-86, so he was already married by the time you guys were there. I don’t think my companion liked the curry a lot, he doesn’t do well with spicy and he was in the bathroom for a long time last night. I really liked it though, and it reminded me of your curry. I also told them that you made that yellow rice and they said they hadn’t had it for years.

We’ve gotten some good referrals, but we still mostly do tracting. I think my legs are bigger now than when I was in my last area, I don’t get as sore as I did when I first got here. We still walk a couple miles every day, and it kind of reminds me of walking around Brazil, so I don’t mind.

Well, I don’t have anything else to write about, but I will write again next week.

So I did get transferred, but not very far. I’m in the same Denver North Stake, in the area that borders my last one. The biggest difference is that its a bike area instead of car, and there are two missionaries who are in car areas and said I could borrow there bikes, so I don’t need to buy one. Which is good since I wouldn’t use it for very long. I was released as district leader, and I’ve been called to train a brand new missionary. His name is Elder Sardoni. Hes from California and he was in the MTC for three weeks before they shipped him straight here. Its interesting because our ward used to be covered along with another, but they split the two wards into two different areas. So got swept in, and I don’t know anyone in the area, and from what I hear there hasn’t been much work going on here. It was all in the other ward. But that’s alright, we’ll be able to find people and work to do. We live in the basement of a really big house, they have a ping pong table, a pool table, and an air hockey table. So we’ll always have something fun to do on p-days. We only have a couple dinners signed up this week because they went back and forth between the wards every week, and this week was the other ward. Its alright though. I will hopefully have more to write next week when I know more people and know the area better. I’m in the Cherrywood ward of Thornton Colorado.

Hahaha, thats awesome. This district has been around forever, they use it to train new missionaries, but I didnt know they started showing it on tv. We actually have it on dvd at our house. We’re supposed to use it for training and district meetings and things. Most of the missionaries I see on there arent very good though, it more shows what not to do. There was one where they taught the law of chastity, but they didnt explain it well enough because the guy thought he wasnt supposed to go on dates or even talk to girls too much. Its kind of funny.

I can think of one story where i really felt the spirit and saw it help people. We were at an investigators house, and the woman really liked to talk. She would interupt us every other sentence, and her kids were running around being noisy. It wasnt turning out very well and I though we would just finish, say a prayer and then leave, but then we got to the first vision. As soon as I started, all the kids stopped running and sat down on the couch, the woman stopped talking completely, and it got really quiet in the house. The feeling of the whole family changed, and I could tell they felt the spirit there really strongly. It turned out to be a great lesson, and the whole family ended up being baptized. It was really cool.

Well, good luck with the snow, its kind of the same here. Our car slips and slides, and there have been a few times where after we got out of an appointment our doors and windows were frozen shut. Nothing else too exciting, hope that story helps! Write you next week!

Most people are pretty excited, the missionaries here dont really care that much yet, but we should be getting some new young missionaries soon. Its the same as it was down in Brazil, so its not that much of a change to me. I think the Sisters age change is a pretty big deal though. We have a recent convert who was a little down because she wants to serve but she thought she was going to have to wait til she was 21, so now shes trying to decide if she should go right now or not. Its a tough decision. The young men are excited in our ward.

I got an email from Grandma Bushman today. Its good to hear from her, and Im glad shes happy. She said she feels young and that made me laugh. Its pretty awesome. Its been cold here but no snow yet. Its rained a few times, but it keeps jumping up and down every few days. Today is really warm, and so was yesterday, but Saturday it was really cold.

So I met Jeff Cartwright’s sister, shes in our ward and we had dinner with her family. She thought it was crazy when I told her he was your companion. She said he lived with them since he was like 12, so she pretty much raised him.

We have a couple baptisms this Thursday, I’m pretty excited for them. I’m really hoping they don’t fall through, its crazy how busy I am. Its nuts being senior, I have so much to do and so much to worry about. It helps though because then I don’t have time to think about anything else, and time passes crazy fast. Its already the fourth week of the transfer! I don’t know if I will stay in the area for another transfer, other missionaries keep telling me I’m going to train or be a district leader or something. I hope not. But it would be cool. I’ll talk to you more next week, and tell you what happened with the baptisms.

I haven’t met Jeff yet, but some other elders told me that he asked them if they knew Elder Perry. So that was pretty cool. Nothing exciting happened this week, I’m just getting used to driving and introducing Elder Tyler to all of our investigators. Its been pretty fun so far, I feel so much better now, I don’t know why. It just seems like because I have more responsibility, I can do better. I don’t like to be limited, and now I have to do things because I’m the one who takes the blame if we mess up haha. I like it though, and I cant believe how fast it is starting to go. Next thing you know Ill be off at college. see you guys later! Ill write again next week, tell Jordan and tanner to write me or else.

I still think its pretty crazy that Grandma is getting married. And
Wade too. The only thing I could think of for a package would be
rubber bands. I think it would almost be easier just to put money in
my account, since I can buy anything that I need here. Not a whole lot
to write this week, though weve been pretty busy. Ask jordan about
what happened with me and the goat. Everything here is pretty much the
same, just easier because Im already used to the culture and
everything. Its also nice that I can find snacks easily and cheaper
than brazil. I cant remember what I wrote about last week. I try not
to think about home, I even have a rubber band that I put on my wrist
and snap myself if I start to get trunky. I just have to not think
about how much longer I have, just focus on what Im doing. Then it
will be over in no time. Well, I will write you next week, good luck
with the pool.
Love you, Elder Perry
P.S. I might be interested in visiting hawaii when I get back.

I still think its pretty crazy that Grandma is getting married. And
Wade too. The only thing I could think of for a package would be
rubber bands. I think it would almost be easier just to put money in
my account, since I can buy anything that I need here. Not a whole lot
to write this week, though we've been pretty busy. Ask Jordan about
what happened with me and the goat. Everything here is pretty much the
same, just easier because I'm already used to the culture and
everything. It's also nice that I can find snacks easily and cheaper
than Brazil. I can't remember what I wrote about last week. I try not
to think about home, I even have a rubber band that I put on my wrist
and snap myself if I start to get trunky. I just have to not think
about how much longer I have, just focus on what I'm doing. Then it
will be over in no time. Well, I will write you next week, good luck
with the pool.
Love you, Elder Perry
P.S. I might be interested in visiting Hawaii when I get back.